Independence Probate Lawyers

With extensive experience in real estate and business management, Christie Tournet & Associates is the consummate business, estate planning, and successions/probate firm. Christie views legal issues through a unique lens and becomes a trusted legal and business adviser.

We do things differently from other lawyers. We don't just give you a stack of documents. We advise and guide you to the best possible outcome for your family when you can't be there for them yourself. Our firm represents Louisiana families and individuals on matters involving estate planning, succession, probate, wills, trusts, and long-term care planning. We help you make the best planning decisions for your family and ensure that the estate plan you create with us will work when your loved ones need it most. Our team includes an expert estate planning attorney with 20+ years of experience in wills, trusts...

Bill Cherbonnier is a New Orleans native and a graduate of Jesuit High School and Tulane University Law School. He grew up on the West Bank and currently lives on the East Bank, and has offices on both sides of the river. His law practice includes all of South Louisiana and employs the latest technology to communicate with clients. Most initial consultations are conducted by telephone and are usually free. Bill is a trial lawyer who has represented plaintiff personal injury claimants, insurance company defendants, and an occasional alleged felon. He believes that the middle class in America is the forgotten...

I am a CPA and attorney. I have been a CPA since 1994 and an Louisiana attorney since 2000. The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization has designated me as a Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist (since 2008), as well as a Board Certified Tax Law Specialist (also since 2008). My practice focuses strongly on the needs and issues particular to farmers, middle income clients and small business owners. These include issues such as estate tax reduction, medicaid long-term care planning, special needs planning, asset protection planning, and small business protection planning. Plans I regularly recommend and personally draft for...

Peggy Gonsoulin Vallejo graduated from Tulane Law School in May 1999 and was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar in October 1999.

Her practice consists of civil litigation with a strong focus on personal injury, divorce, child support, spousal support, and succession matters. She has clients in all of the surrounding parishes in the Greater New Orleans Metro Area including St. Tammany, Orleans, Jefferson, Washington, Tangipahoa, Livingston and East Baton Rouge.

Rich is a shareholder with Wiener, Weiss & Madison. He joined the firm in 2013 and advises businesses, families and individuals in the areas of Taxation, Corporate Law, Securities Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate Law, Estate Planning, Successions/Probate, Title Insurance and Nonprofit Law.

Allen P. Jones is a shareholder in Wiener, Weiss & Madison, A Professional Corporation. He practices in the areas of estate planning, tax law, succession and probate law, business and corporate law, and real estate. Allen represents individuals and families in all aspects of estate planning, including the preparation of wills, trusts, partnerships and limited liability companies. His work in the area of business and corporate law includes business succession planning, corporate reorganizations, and business sale transactions. He is Board Certified by the Louisiana State Bar in Estate Planning, and is licensed as a title insurance agent in the state...

Armand Roos is Of Counsel for the firm of Wiener, Weiss & Madison, A Professional Corporation. He has been in private practice for more than 40 years. Armand is certified as a specialist in estate planning and estate administration by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).

Jeffrey S. Wittenbrink is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He handles difficult and complex custody and community property cases associated with divorce; adoptions, paternity and grandparent custody cases. He also handles personal injury cases, wills and successions and general civil and criminal litigation. He is most recently associated with First Amendment litigation on behalf of Pastor Tony Spell, of Central, Louisiana, and has defended Firehouse BBQ in Watson, Louisiana in litigation against Governor Edwards' Covid-19 restrictions.

Linda S. Melancon is an attorney practicing in the areas of Estate Planning,
Elder Law, Medicaid and VA benefit’s planning, Special Needs Planning, and Estate
Administration (Probate, Successions and Trust Administration).
Linda is a Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist, certified by the
Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. She is also accredited by the Veterans Administration to
give advice regarding veterans’ benefits.

Linda graduated magna cum laude from Mercer University with a double major in business
administration and history and then attended Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law
Center where she graduated with her law degree in 1997.

While in law school, Linda received the Order...

Scott Ruel is an attorney located in Madisonville, Louisiana. He is admitted to the Louisiana state bar and graduated from Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C. He is the owner of The Ruel Law Firm in Madisonville, LA. Mr. Ruel specializes in personal injury law, successions, criminal law, DUI, possession and traffic tickets. Our firm takes cases in all parishes. Free consultations on traffic tickets. We also accept credit cards by phone and email link. If you need legal assistance and want to speak with Mr. Ruel now, call our office at 985-845-7031or visit us at www.ruellaw.net....

James is the managing member and managing attorney of Zitzmann Law, LLC and founded the firm in 2014.

He attended Louisiana State University for his undergraduate degree. While at Louisiana State, James was involved in Louisiana State University Student Government and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

He attended the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law where he was a member of the Loyola Law and Technology Annual. While attending, he received the Loyola Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship and the Academic Excellence...

Since founding Field Law in 2012, I have helped hundreds of people with their legal problems from all walks of life and from all corners of our great state. I enjoy working everyday to make a difference in the lives of my clients.

Every client, every person, deserves to be treated with respect and care. That is core to our mission at Field Law. Our clients are people, not big corporations, not large agencies, but everyday people. My former clients include people from every walk of life, from farmers and first responders to former professional athletes and stay-at-home moms.

At Field Law,...

Bob Hawthorne is of counsel to the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He is one of the founding members of the firm and practices in the estate planning and probate, business and corporate, and real estate groups. Bob represents clients in the finance, acquisition, construction, purchase, refinancing, management, leasing and sale of various types of real estate developments, both commercial and residential, including office buildings, shopping malls, manufacturing facilities, retail centers, industrial facilities, and commercial developments.

Bob advises business and corporate clients with regard to commercial lending transactions, financings, and the structure and formation of corporate entities. He has extensive...

Jeffrey W. Weiss attended high school at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, from which he graduated with honors, and college at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California, from which he received a B.A. degree in 1983, graduating magna cum laude, with honors in economics. Upon graduation from Claremont McKenna College, Jeff was admitted to Phi Beta Kappa.

Jeff obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from Tulane School of Law in 1986, from which he graduated summa cum laude. At Tulane, Jeff served as a member of the Tulane Law Review, and was admitted to the Order of the Coif honor society.

Jeff has...

As an associate attorney of Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LTD LLP, Ryan Cook maintains an active securities arbitration and litigation practice. Mr. Cook has worked on numerous cases dealing with individual investors, high net worth and institutional investors, corporate executives, regional banks and municipal issuers.

Prior to beginning his law practice, Mr. Cook worked in the securities industry as a licensed and registered representative with a large broker/dealer. He received his Juris Doctor (JD) degree from South Texas College of Law, where he earned his degree Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor) as the graduating salutatorian. Mr. Cook...

Michael S. Donovan, and the Donovan Law Firm, LLC, provides effective and efficient advocacy for our clients that are looking to protect their family’s future.

After practicing in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, probate, and real estate law for several years with a boutique law firm in the Baton Rouge area, Siobhan Leger opened the Leger Law Group, LLC. As the managing attorney for the Leger Law Group, LLC, Siobhan now practices in all areas of civil law, but continues to focus her practice on wills & trusts, estates, real estate, Medicaid and Veteran's Aid & Attendance planning, and family law.

Siobhan Leger is a graduate of both Louisiana State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English, and the Paul M....

Bogalusa, LA – Patrick G. Murray, managing partner of Murray Law Office.

Born in Bogalusa, LA to Lewis and Debbie Murray. Graduated Valedictorian from Bowling Green High School in 2007 and went on to study International Business at The University of Southern Mississippi. After obtaining his Degree in International Business, he continued his education at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Working with the District Attorney's Office during the day while studying law at night, Patrick developed a passion for serving the community and a strong desire to start a practice in Bogalusa. Completing...

Ms. Rosado is a licensed attorney and notary in the State of Louisiana. Ms. Rosado received her J.D., dual degree in civil and common law with a concentration in International Law, in 2009 from Loyola University School of Law where she was a member of the Loyola Trial Advocacy competition teams: – Michigan State in the Spring of 2008 – AAJ in the Fall of 2009 Ms. Rosado served as an officer on the Trial Advocacy Board from 2008-2009. While at Loyola, Ms. Rosado was involved in: – Loyola’s Law Clinic – Public Interest Law Journal –...

Paul focuses on helping clients to probate estates, resolve construction disputes, and protect property and investments involved in the tax sale process. When Paul isn't busy helping his clients he enjoys photography, kayaking, engineering projects, and learning about Louisiana history.

John E. Sirois, JD, MBA, CFP®, CIMA, CIMC, is based out of Houma, Louisiana practicing in the areas of estate planning, successions and probate, wills, trusts, special needs planning, Medicaid and long term care planning and Veterans Pension Benfits (aid and attendance). He works with clients throughout Southeast Louisiana. Many of John’s clients are retirees, and pre-retirees, and seniors who wish to ensure their financial future as well as the financial security of their spouse, children and grandchildren. John’s comprehensive book Louisiana Retirement and Estate Planning: The essential financial planning book for retirees and pre-retirees offers answers to the complex...

Randy Russell is a an experienced, skilled and aggressive trial attorney who has successfully litigated matters for his clients throughout Southeast Louisiana for the past eighteen (18) years involved in significant personal injury, wrongful death, workers' compensation and first party insurance cases. Randy's prior experience defending major casualty insurance companies gives him unique insight as to the insurance claims handling process. Through this experience, Randy understands the inner workings of how insurers evaluate claims and he knows how to successfully support and present claims to insurers to ensure that his clients timely recover all damages that they are entitled to....

If you've decided that it's time to plan for the inevitable, let this experienced Baton Rouge estate planning lawyer help you develop a plan that's right for you and your family. Attorney Wendra J. Morgan has the legal knowledge and compassionate understanding that you need. With a sincere care towards each of her clients, this is a legal professional who works closely with each client in order to achieve their goals. Here, your situation will be thoroughly studied and understood by an attorney who has your best interests at heart. Put your future in the right hands. Contact the...

My name is Anton Martynenko, and I am a proud member of the Scott Vicknair team. My journey to becoming a lawyer started from humble beginnings in the former USSR during some of the most fascinating but challenging times. Today, I am oddly thankful for facing poverty and hardship from an early age because those struggles instilled in me a strong work ethic, a drive to succeed, and compassion for folks from all walks of life. At the age of 15, I had a rare opportunity to come to the United States as an exchange student. Three years later, I...

Phillip Lynch, Jr. BIO 2019
Phillip M. Lynch, Jr., has practiced law for over thirty years in the New Orleans area and
focuses on successions, real estate matters, and family law issues. In 1996, he was
elected as Justice of the Peace and served two 6-year terms in Ward Four of St.
Tammany Parish. He was also Captain of Professional Standards and a Staff Attorney
for the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. A former president of the Greater Covington
Bar Association, he served the LSBA’s House of Delegates, and its MCLE Committee.
A former reserve deputy in Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, and St. Tammany Parishes,
he is a...

Our lawyers have over 85 years experience in representing those in need of quality legal services. Our practice is dedicated to helping our clients with their serious legal matters.
In addition to focusing on injury claims where we have built our reputation one client at a time, we also take great pride in representing businesses in their corporate matters and disputes, as well as handling complex corporate transfers, mergers and buy-outs, or assisting a new or experienced entrepreneur in starting a business.
Our title company, Acquire Title Services, Inc, handles both commercial and residential real estate transactions.
And, should you need help...

Edward J. McCloskey has proudly served the Greater New Orleans area for over 45 years. He is an av-rated expert in Business and Successions Law, making him the one to trust while making important decisions for the future.

I am a lifelong resident of New Orleans. I attended Benjamin Franklin Senior High School, graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and returned home to attend Loyola Law School. As a third-year law student, I worked as a student-practitioner in what is now known as the Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice. My experience as a student-practitioner allowed me to give back to my community while developing legal skills with on-the-ground experience. After graduating from Loyola Law School, I worked briefly for a solo practitioner who had a general civil practice. I represented a...

My practice is primarily focused on estate and probate litigation as well as wrongful death litigation. My team and I represent families and clients throughout the country and internationally with legal matters in Louisiana. We handle a wide range of estate matters; from the simple transfer of assets from parents to kids to multimillion-dollar estate battles over rights of inheritance, we have handled it and everything in between. I was born and raised in Lafourche Parish, La., in a small community where I was related to almost everyone. My great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all lived there as well. We...

I was raised in Lafayette, Louisiana and am a proud graduate of Lafayette High School. After earning my undergraduate degree from Tulane University in 2013, I spent two years serving in the Phoenix Corps of Teach for America. I returned to my hometown in 2015 and spent a year working as a legal assistant to Attorneys Marc W. Judice and Daniel C. Palmintier at Judice & Adley law firm. These early lessons on best practices in a legal career were formative for me, and I carry them with me to this day. After enrolling at LSU Law in 2016, I was...

I really enjoy working with clients and handling the delicate legal issues that are incredibly important to the families I represent. My background and experience in real estate, successions, wills, and estate planning, partitions, and property litigation are learning experiences that I believe help bring value and results to our clients. Before joining Scott Vicknair, I owned and operated a successful real estate closing company and law firm for many years. In that role as a business owner and operator, I further developed my skills in successions and real estate. Working in the title industry provided me with a lot of...

John attended Louisiana State University where he earned his Bachelor degree in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing. At LSU, John was on the Dean’s List, he was a recipient of the LSU Centennial Award, and he was a recipient of the TOPS Honors Award. John was also an active member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, where he served as Scholarship Chair.

John earned his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. While at Loyola, John earned the Law Excellence Award multiple times for his top performance in Torts I, Regulation of Sports Industry, and the...